Executive Director of Bike Cleveland nearly hit by RTA bus while on his bicycle

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Jakob VanSickle, who has advocated for safer biking in Cleveland for 10 years because the Govt Director of Bike Cleveland, was virtually hit by an RTA bus as he crossed the Detroit-Superior Bridge into Downtown Cleveland.

VanSickle was in a well-marked bike lane when an RTA bus beeped its horn a number of instances and moved over into the lane, inflicting Vansickle to abruptly cease and maneuver out of the best way in order to not be hit.

VanSickle, an skilled bicycle owner, thought he was going to be hit.

“Sure, I felt I used to be going to be both sideswiped or pushed into the curb and fall off my bike,” he stated.

Buses, in line with VanSickle, are required to permit cyclists to cross earlier than merging into bike lanes to make their stops.

On this case, VanSickle stated the bus by no means even bothered to decelerate and easily reduce him off earlier than making a cease.

“I think about if this was somebody new to biking, they won’t have recognized the right way to react,” he stated.

After gathering himself, VanSickle cycled as much as the motive force on the subsequent cease and requested why he had reduce him off.

However the driver, VanSickle stated, merely ignored him.

RTA officers, as of this publication, had not responded to a request from 19 Information for data concerning the incident.

Nevertheless, VanSickle stated that RTA had responded to his emails with a cellphone name and a promise to strengthen coaching with drivers concerning bus lanes.

VanSickle stated he’ll proceed to advocate for safer situations for cyclists together with protected bike lanes that might stop such a incident from taking place once more.

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